Bitter leaf can be air dried but some days you might just need to dry bitter leaf in a hurry or any vegetable for that matter, especially a small quantity, this is where the microwave oven comes in. For long storage, especially for those who can’t readily access bitter leaf, or for variety in Ogbono soup, dry bitter leaf is a necessity. I always buy the pre-washed bitter leaf from the market, which I then dry.
How to dry or dehydrate bitter leaf using the microwave oven
After washing and boiling, squeeze out as much water as you can,
then spread thinly on a microwaveable flat plate.
Place in the oven and cook on high for 2 to 3 minutes at a time. Mix and spread out, breaking up clumps at each interval. It gets very hot so be careful.
Leave to cool down after about the 2nd or 3rd heating only then can you gauge if it has dried enough. The heat can make it seem deceptively dry.
When the bitter leaf is totally dry, store at room temperature.
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